Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Kholod
"So, Mr. Morozov, regarding the shipping route for this cargo, I suggest..."
Harrison's voice echoed through the private room, but I wasn't hearing a damn word. Through the gaps in the blinds, my eyes tracked the figure in the hall below.
Noelle.
She sat in a window booth, sunlight spilling across her, the pale pink dress making her look soft and sweet. Isabella sat across from her, both laughing at something. Seeing her smile like that, my tense nerves relaxed slightly.
Good. She really was just enjoying tea. After dropping her off this morning, Harrison had called for this last-minute meeting—perfect timing to check on her safety before picking her up tonight.
"Mr. Morozov?" Harrison's voice pulled me back. "Do you think this plan will work?"
"It's fine." I turned to the shipping chart on the table. "But you need to guarantee no customs issues during transport."
"You can count on that." Harrison nodded. "I have reliable connections at customs..."
He kept explaining details, but my attention drifted back to the window. Noelle picked up a pastry, taking delicate little bites. Watching her focused expression, my mouth curved slightly upward.
Bringing her out was the right call.
"So we have a deal?" Harrison asked.
"Yeah, that works." I nodded. "The lawyers will send the contract tomorrow."
"Excellent!" Harrison stood, extending his hand. "It's an honor working with the Morozovs."
I shook his hand.
After seeing Harrison out, I returned to the window for one last look before leaving.
Suddenly, commotion erupted below. I frowned, looking down, and froze solid.
Lorenzo Conti. That persistent bastard was walking toward Noelle with a massive bouquet of red roses.
How the hell was he here? How did he know Noelle was here?
My eyes swept the hall—Isabella was gone. Where the fuck had she gone?
Lorenzo reached the table, slamming down the flowers. I watched him grab Noelle's wrist, both of them struggling as nearby customers turned to stare. He was saying something frantically, gripping harder, almost pulling her into his arms.
And Noelle—she clearly wasn't kicking the bastard where it counted.
Burning rage shot straight to my head. She'd lied to me again. Never stopped lying!
Having tea? Clearing her head? All bullshit! Her real purpose was meeting Lorenzo Conti! Even Isabella was being used—pretending it was a casual hangout when it was really a secret rendezvous with her old lover!
All my restraint these past days, my attempts to start fresh—it was all a fucking joke!
"Fuck!"
I slammed my fist into the window frame, the blinds shaking violently.
I spun around and stormed out of the room.
I descended the stairs one step at a time, fury climbing with each step. Waiters in the hallway scrambled out of my way, terror written across their faces.
I knew exactly how terrifying I looked right now.
Bloodlust pounded through my veins.
I hit the last few steps and entered the hall. The chattering stopped dead. Everyone turned to stare. I walked straight toward that booth, each step heavy, my shoes striking marble with dull thuds.
The crowd parted automatically. I could see Lorenzo still gripping Noelle's wrist, his other arm tight around her waist, trying to pull her away. Her cheeks were flushed, her struggles seeming weak—more like she was melting into her lover's embrace.
My vision turned blood red.
"Let go of her."
My voice wasn't loud, but it cut clearly through the entire hall.
Lorenzo went rigid, slowly turning his head. When he saw it was me, all color drained from his face.
"Kholod..." His voice shook, but he still held Noelle tight. "What are you doing here..."
"What am I doing?" I stepped closer. "Looks like the last lesson didn't sink in deep enough."
"I just wanted to talk to Noelle..."
"Talk?" I stopped in front of him, looking down. "By holding her like that?"
"I wasn't—"
"Shut up."
I grabbed his collar hard.
"Kholod!" Noelle cried out. "Don't—"
I ignored her. Her protests only stoked my rage higher.
I jerked hard, sending Lorenzo crashing to the floor.
He hit the marble with a sickening thud.
Since he was still gripping Noelle, she got dragged down too, crying out in pain.
"Noelle!" Lorenzo struggled to help her up.
I stomped on his outstretched hand.
The sound of breaking bone cut sharp through the air.
"Ahhhhh!"
Lorenzo's scream shattered the hall's silence.
"Kholod!" Noelle tried to get up. "Stop! You'll kill him!"
"So what?" I pulled brass knuckles from my pocket, sliding them onto my right hand with deliberate slowness. "Killing him would make my day."
"No!" She lunged forward, trying to grab my arm.
I shoved her back with my free hand.
She fell backward, eyes full of terror.
Perfect. Let her be afraid. Let her see what betrayal costs.
I bent down, grabbed Lorenzo's collar, and hauled him up from the floor.
"Kholod... please..." His face twisted with pain. "I... I just wanted to save her..."
"Save her?" I laughed coldly. "What the fuck gives you the right to save her?"
"Because she's miserable!" he shouted. "This is all because of you!"
Before he finished speaking, my fist connected with his face. The metal edges of the brass knuckles tore through flesh from his right eyebrow to his left jaw.
Blood sprayed out, staining his white shirt and splashing across my hand.
"Ahhhhh!"
His screams grew more desperate.
"Kholod!" Noelle begged through tears. "Stop hitting him!"
I wasn't listening.
Another punch.
Right to his nose.
"Crack."
Bone shattered.
Lorenzo tried to fight back, swinging wildly.
Pathetic.
I easily caught his fist and twisted hard.
"Snap!"
Another bone broke.
"Ahhhhh!"
He collapsed, curling into a ball as blood poured from his wounds, spreading across the floor in a horrifying red pool.
Still not enough.
Not nearly enough.
I pulled out the folding knife I always carried and flicked it open with a sharp "click."
Cold steel glinted.
"No!" Noelle threw herself at me, grabbing my arm. "Kholod! Please! Don't kill him!"
"Let go."
"I won't!" Tears streamed down her face. "It's all my fault... punish me instead... don't kill him..."
"Your fault?" I turned to look at her. "Noelle, finally admitting it?"
"I..."
"Admitting you planned all this? Admitting you used Isabella to set up this meeting so you could see him?"
"No!" She shook her head frantically. "I really didn't know he was coming! Isabella said she had a surprise for me... I thought..."
"You thought what?" I cut her off. "You thought I'd believe that?"
"It's true!" she cried. "Kholod, I'm not lying..."
"Enough."
I shook off her hands and crouched down, grabbing Lorenzo's arm. He was barely conscious, only managing weak moans.
The knife tip pierced his skin, blood seeping out. I began carving, one slow, deep cut at a time, forming letters.
"Ahhhhh!"
His screams echoed through the hall. Customers covered their mouths in horror, some diving under tables.
Blood ran down his arm, pooling on the floor.
P. U. N. K.
Four letters.
Punk.
"This is what happens when you touch my property," I whispered in his ear, voice cold as ice. "Remember this lesson, Lorenzo Conti. Next time, I won't just carve letters in your arm."
I released him. He convulsed in the pool of blood.
"Dmitri." I stood up, shaking blood off my hands.
"Yes, boss."
He walked in with two bodyguards—I'd had them waiting outside.
"Send him back to the Belluccis," I said coldly. "Tell Sofia that next time, there won't be a body to send back."
"Understood."
Dmitri and the guards lifted the moaning Lorenzo. Blood traced a long streak across the floor as they dragged him.
"Noelle..." Lorenzo called weakly. "Noelle... don't... don't trust him... he's a monster..."
"Get him out." I waved impatiently.
The guards covered his mouth and dragged him away.
The hall fell into deathly silence.
Everyone stood frozen like statues, not daring to make a sound.
I turned around. Noelle knelt on the floor, hands covering her face, shoulders shaking violently from crying. Her dress had spread around her, the pink fabric stained with blood.
I walked over and crouched down.
"Look at me."
She shook her head, covering her face tighter.
"Noelle." My voice turned colder. "I said look at me."
She still wouldn't obey. I lost patience, prying her hands away and gripping her chin, forcing her to look up. Tears streaked her face, eyes swollen red, lips white from biting them.
"Open your eyes," I commanded.
"I..."
"Open them!"
She opened her eyes, trembling, those brown eyes filled with fear and despair.
"Look closely." I pointed toward the exit where Dmitri was directing the guards dragging Lorenzo out. "That's what happens to him."
Lorenzo was still struggling, still calling her name.
"That's the price for touching you," I whispered in her ear. "That's what happens when someone tries to take you away."
"Kholod..." Her voice shook. "Please believe me... I really didn't know he was coming..."
"Believe you?" I laughed coldly. "Noelle, how many chances have I given you?"
"This time really wasn't me..."
"Enough." I cut her off, releasing her chin and standing up. "I don't want to hear any more lies."
I looked down at her.
She knelt there, trembling all over, like a frightened little animal. The customers around us were still watching, eyes full of curiosity and gossip. I stripped off my suit jacket and threw it over her.
"Put it on."
She stared at me blankly.
"I said put it on!" I snarled. "Or do you want everyone to see you like this?"
She finally snapped out of it, trembling as she pulled on the jacket.
I bent down, pulled her up from the floor, and threw her over my shoulder. Everyone stepped aside—no one dared stop me.
Under countless stares and whispers, I carried her out. Now I just wanted to get her back somewhere I had complete control, where I could get to the bottom of exactly how many more lies she was hiding.